The LNP claims hundreds of power workers have lost their jobs from the State Government’s decision to shift debt on to State-owned power distributors.
Last July, Queensland Treasurer Curtis Pitt announced the Government had decided to reduce Queensland’s $80 billion debt by moving $4.1 billion off its accounts and on to the books of power distributors.
Shadow Treasurer Scott Emerson said on Monday Labor had “fiddled the books” at the expense of “hundreds and potentially thousands of Queensland families”.
“This inexperienced Labor Government has ripped the guts out of the State’s energy companies and now Queenslanders are paying for it through lost jobs,” Mr Emerson said.
“You can’t ramp up their debts, strip all their cash and raid all of the dividends and expect these energy businesses to grow.
“The majority of these jobs were frontline – with 296 full time positions slashed at Ergon Energy and 116 lost at Energex during 2015-16.
“Labor’s electricity merger has failed to generate the savings promised and we’re instead seeing hard-working Queenslanders lose their jobs.”
Mr Emerson said further job losses were on the cards because of the Government’s 100 per cent dividend demands.
“Both Energex and Ergon have already flagged plans for more job cuts – and the state’s new amalgamated company, Energy Queensland, is also looking to cut costs,” he said.
“What happened to Labor’s promise to build these businesses and use the profits to reduce debt?”
- Related article: Power Companies To Take On State Debt
